Samar Al Ansari Awards for Excellence, 2019

Speech by Haya Alkhaja, Grade 11

Honor Society

Respected parents, students, teachers and guests, Good morning. 

I have never felt more honored than to be asked to present Samar Al Ansari Award for Analytical and Critical Thinking in Economics and Samar Al Ansari Award for Girls Soccer. 

As a role model, Samar inspires us to be unique and to be passionate about our interests. Each and every one of us has a very unique contribution that we can make to the IKNS community, and we should set our minds to it just as Samar did. She was an honor society member and was very passionate about Economics which made her unique among her peers. She also took a particular interest in soccer and excelled in it as she did in economics. 

In loving memory of Samar’s ambition for economics and soccer, her family has decided in association with the school to establish the Samar Al Ansari Awards for excellence as an encouragement for the students who excel in Economics and Soccer to follow her footsteps.

Since 2007, the Samar Al Ansari Award for Analytical and Critical Thinking in Economics was given to a senior who has developed the skills similar to that of Samar’s based on the following two criteria: 

1: The application and analysis of economic theories and concepts

2: The evaluation of economic concepts in real-life situations 

The chosen person is someone who can think outside the box and someone who can apply the critical economic theories to real-life situations and evaluate their applications. He/she is able to transfer the knowledge gained from the textbooks to concrete situations in the news and can assess how well the models fit the reality and where they fall short.

Starting the coming school year, Samar Al Ansari Award for Analytical and Critical Thinking in Economics will be awarded only to a Grade 11 student who would benefit from the recognition when she or he applies to universities.  This year, however, to ensure that no one grade level would be denied of its right to the award, Samar’s family kindly sanctioned the award of two economics awards, one goes to a Grade 12 student and the other to a Grade 11 student.   

Samar Al Ansari award for Girls Soccer has been given to a student who has been passionate about soccer and developed similar soccer skills and leadership skills as Samar did based on the following criteria

1. To be skillful in sports
2. To have a high sense of commitment and responsibility
3. To demonstrate leadership qualities 
4. To be cooperative and supportive of her team members

I would likely to kindly ask Dr Randah Hamadeh, mother of Samar Al Ansari, to present Samar’s awards for excellence

●      The Grade 12 winner of Samar Al Ansari Award for Analytical and Critical Thinking in Economics of 2019 is Salman Dhaif

●      The Grade 11 winner of Samar Al Ansari Award for Analytical and Critical Thinking in Economics of 2019 is Yara Hasan

●      And the winner of Samar Al Ansari Award for Girls Soccer of 2019 is Leah Sarwani, Grade 11

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SAMAR AL ANSARI AWARD FOR ANALYTICAL AND CRITICAL THINKING IN ECONOMICS - 2014/2015

Good Morning,

 I once asked one of Samar’s teachers, what was Samar known for? And he said, “Her smile, her happy attitude and her commitment to work.”

Samar Al Ansari was an IKNS student who graduated in the year 2006. She has left a permanent mark on her teachers, family and friends throughout her years and is remembered profoundly. I haven’t met her personally, but she was described to me as a bright, kind and humble student who was able to balance academics and sports. She was not only passionate about economics but also excelled in that field analyzing and tackling theories on her own. Her passion drove her to explore the world of economics, viewing it in color, unlike many who see it as black or white. Since Samar’s passing, her family has presented a yearly award to an IKNS student who has the similar abilities as she did, starting from 2007. The student chosen is based on the following criteria:

1.     Application and analysis of Economic concepts and theories

2.     Evaluation and assessment of the student’s ability to evaluate economic concepts and theories in the context of real-world examples.

This award recognizes the students who are able to go beyond what is merely presented in textbooks and challenge concepts like she once did.

 This year's Samar Al Ansari Award for Analytical and Critical Thinking in Economics goes to Ahmed Saleh.

By:

Ghaidaa Ashoor, Grade 11

In 31 May 2015

SAMAR AL ANSARI AWARD For Girls Soccer, IKNS 2014

Samar Al Ansari Award in Physical Education

Samar Al Ansari Award in Physical Education

School year 2012/2013

Sunday, 2 June 2013

In the Athletics Awards Night every year, the school celebrates an outstanding female Athlete by awarding her the Samar Al Ansari Award in Physical education. 

The eligible student for this award exhibits excellent sportsmanship combined with a commitment to IKNS sports and a high standard of skill in at least one sport. 

Samar Al Ansari was an IKNS student who exhibited these traits.  Samar enjoyed many sports, yet she excelled in football.  She enjoyed a high sense of fairness, self-control and respect for her team, coaches and opponents. 

Today, we celebrate these fine traits of sportsmanship, and encourage young IKNS athletes to endorse them as well.  Playing a sport is not only about winning and losing.  It is also about discipline, perseverance and courage.  This is what the Samar Al Ansari Award symbolizes, and this is what IKNS Athletes aspire to.   

In good memory of Samar, the Samar Al Ansari Award in Physical education is awarded yearly by her family to the student who best demonstrates these traits. 

This year’s the Award goes to  Danya Al Natour, Grade 10.

Ibn Khuldoon honours top achievers   Posted on » Monday, June 03, 2013

NINETEEN students were yesterday honoured at the Ibn Khuldoon National School (IKNS), Isa Town. Students, from grades nine to 11, were present at the event along with parents and school president Dr Kamal Abdel Nour. During the ceremony, the Samar Al Ansari's annual prize for Critical Thinking in Economics was awarded to Mohammed Nabil Ali from grade 12. The award was launched five years ago in remembrance of former student Samar Al Ansari, who died in a car accident. School educational committee chairwoman Dr Randah Hamadeh, who is also Samar's mother, presented the award. Also present were secondary school principal Chaouki Barake, board members, staff, parents and other students. The top achievers were: Yousif Sadiq Al Akram, Ghaidaa Basem Ashoor, Reem Mohammad Chaudhry, Mariam Faisal Al Ghamdi, Salman Abbas Hasan, Saif Najeeb Jamsheer, Abdulla Yousif Khalaf, Liana Mohammed Al Natour, Mahmoud Khaled Ellithy, Zaina Yousif Al Khaja, Hasan Raouf Al Saleh, Maryam Rashed Al Shaeel, Feras Talal Al Alawi, Rawan Abbood Al Amoodi, Mohamed Baqer Al Fardan, Abdulaziz Omar Al Ghamdi, Yousif Abdulaziz Al Haddad, Fahad Khalid Al Jaber and Layla Sadiq Al Najjar. http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=354545 NOTE: This is the seventh year Samar's Awards are given. Um Samar

جائزتي

ها أنت اليوم في مدرستي

تجلسين حيث جلست مع أترابي

في يوم جمعية الشرف

.حين إنضممت اليها كأخوتي أحبابي

كنت فخورة جدا بي،

السعادة تتطاير من عينيك

واليوم تجلسي على نفس المقعد

.لتكرمي وتعطي جائزتي بيديك

أمي، بلغي سلامي

لكل أستاذ من أساتذتي

واشكري من يذكرني

.حتى بعد مماتي

وسلامي لمن ينظر اليك

ويترحم علي بصمت

ويشعر وكأنه قابلني

.حتى مع مرور الوقت

  

هنئي الفائز بجائزتي

فأنا أبارك له من السموات

أهديه دعاء أن يرافقه النجاح

.والتميز في جميع الأوقات

وقبل أن تغادري، زوري

كل ركن قضيت به أجمل أوقاتي

ثم قفي لبرهة أمام شجرتي

.وادعي لي، أمي يا فرحة حياتي

رنده ربحي حماده

جميع الحقوق محفوظة للمؤلفة© ٢٠١٣

:للمؤلفة

سمر غروب و شروق ٢٠٠٧     

سمر شمس لن تغيب ٢٠٠٨

سمر  معنا ٢٠١١

Samar's Tree at IKNS

Photos Taken by Dr. Kamal Abdelnour, IKNS President

Samar's Palm Tree at IKNS,20 July 2012

Samar Al Ansari Athletic Award-2012

Every year we present an award in the memory of Samar Al Ansari to encourage the girls to play football just like Samar used to do.  I was not one of the lucky ones to meet Samar, but I feel like I have known her from what all other teachers have said about her.  Samar’s passion was football among other sports.  Samar has always been a role model to our girls because of her dedication and commitment towards her game that she loved the most.  Samar believed in Life, like football, is a game of inches.  An inch can make the difference between victory and defeat.  And if you want to succeed in football or life, you have to fight for every inch.  Never take anything for granted.  Always keep fighting, even when everything seems stacked against you.

This year the award goes to Nadeen Al Araifi

Samar Al Ansari Award for Analytical and Critical Thinking in Economics-2012 Cont...

Samar Al Ansari's Economics Award- 2012

Speech by Nayla Al Khalifa

                                     Grade 11, Ibn Khuldoon National School

Dr. Joyce Brothers, a famous psychologist, once said, “An individual’s self-concept is the core of his personality. It affects every aspect of human behavior: the ability to learn, the capacity to grow and change. A strong positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success in life".

      

       These qualities were all seen in Samar Al-Ansari. She was one of the most well-rounded students in the history of IKNS. She was an outstanding example of confidence, kindness, helpfulness, and friendliness- all qualities that a student should possess. Many of you might not have known her personally. Samar excelled in both academics and sport.  From KG1 until her graduation in 2006, Samar always made an outstanding effort and her contribution to the school was great. Hence, in memory of Samar, her parents have established two, annual prizes- which are given to two, senior-year students- a student who has achieved the most outstanding performance in Economics, and to another student who excelled in Physical Education. In Economics, Samar had the ability to question and to understand economic theories- for she excelled in thinking “outside- the –box”. Indeed, Samar was a unique student.

As a tribute to Samar, who was a member of the Honor Society, and to honor her memory, the Economics prize is awarded each year to a student who excels in the following criteria:

Criterion 1: Application and analysis of Economic concepts and theories.

Criterion 2: Evaluation; Assessment of the student’s ability to evaluate economic concepts and theories in the context of real-world examples.

In the past years, the Samar Al Ansari Economics Award was presented to Subah Bu-Ali, Tariq Noor, Nouf Mattar, Abdulla Mahmood, and Muzoon Mattar, and this year, the Samar Al Ansari Economics award is presented to Talal Al Aradi.

Talal‘s articulation and clear writing as well as his analytical abilities and critical thinking skills made him the most eligible candidate among 22 students taking economics in 2011-12.

I have the pleasure to invite Dr. Randah Hamadah, Samar’s mother, to present the Samar Al Ansari’s Award in Economics to Talal Al Aradi.

Samar Al Ansari Athletic Award

The criteria for winning the award:

1. To be skillful in sports,


2. To have a high sense of commitment and responsiblity,


3. To demonstrate leadership qualities,


4. To be cooperative and supportive of her team members.

Every year we present an award in the memory of Samar Al-Ansari to encourage the girls to play football just like Samar used to do. I was not one of the lucky ones who met Samar, but I feel like I have known her from what all other teachers said about her. Samar's passion was football among other sports. She is a role model to our girls because of her dedication and commitment towards her game that she loved the most. Samar believed that life, like football, is a game of inches. An inch can make the difference between victory and defeat. And if you want to succeed in football or life, you have to fight for every inch. Never take anything for granted. Always keep fighting, even when everything seems stacked against you.This year the award goes to Leen Sheriff.

Presented by:

Mario Ishaq

PE Director,IKNS

Ibn Khuldoon School Honours Top Pupils

Samar Al Ansari's Economics 2010 Award
given to Abdulla Mahmood

Samar Al Ansari's 2010 Economics Award

A Chinese proverb states, “Kindness in words creates confidence, kindness in thinking creates profoundness, kindness in feeling creates love.” Indeed, Samar Al Ansari was a kind person - a confident student who was very helpful, and friendly. Many of you here might not have known her personally; Samar was part of the IKNS community since KG1 and all the way through to her graduation in 2006. Samar is also remembered for her well-rounded personality as she excelled in her academics and managed to be a good athlete. In her memory, and in tribute to her outstanding efforts and performance in school, her parents have established annual prizes to graduating students who have excelled in the two areas which she had most passion for, Economics and Physical Education. In Economics, Samar was outstanding in her ability to view economic theories in a different perspective. She looked at everything with a critical and analytical mind and questioned everything; and that is particularly what made her a distinguished student. As a tribute to Samar, who was a member of the Honor Society, and to honor her memory, the Economics prize is awarded each year to a student who excels in the following criteria:

Criterion 1: Application and analysis of Economic concepts and theories.
Criterion 2: Evaluation; Assessment of the student’s ability to evaluate economic concepts and theories in the context of real-world examples.

In 2007, the Samar Al Ansari Economics Award was presented to Subah Bu-Ali, in 2008 to Tariq Noor, in 2009 to Nouf Mattar and this year, the Samar Al Ansari Economics award is presented to Abdulla Mahmoud‘s articulation and clear writing as well as his analytical abilities and critical thinking skills made him the most eligible candidate among 23 students taking economics in 2009-10.

I have the pleasure to invite Dr. Randah Hamadah, Samar’s mother, to present the Samar Al Ansari’s Award in Economics to Abdulla Mahmoud.

By Bedoor Mulla
II IB , Honor Society Member
IKNS

Samar Al Ansari 2009 Economics Award

Honored Guests, Parents, and Students,
Three years ago, IKNS lost one its most loved students. Samar Al Ansari, may her soul rest in peace, was a stellar student who was known for many amiable qualities. Not only was Samar known as an excellent academic and athlete, but she was also known to be a great friend with a great personality.
I personally never got the chance to get to know Samar. But I’ve heard many stories about her great personality from many people around school. From what I’ve heard, one can easily tell that Samar was an outstanding student. Whenever you hear Samar Al Ansari, you hear people talking about how intelligent she was or how kind hearted or popular she was. People would tell me that Samar was truly one of a kind. Many, like me, who didn’t know Samar or were merely acquainted, would say how she touched their lives.
Everyone who knew Samar loved her dearly. Some would tell me how her optimism kept them going. She was a witty and thoughtful person. She never left any problems unsolved. She scrutinized everything she stumbled upon. Be it an economics theory or a complex mathematical problem. And when she does stumble upon any problems, she examines it with a critical eye. Dissecting the problem into smaller manageable pieces. Samar was someone who wasn’t easily pleased with a straightforward answer. She looked for all possible solutions to any problems and weighed the consequences and benefits. She was an individual thinker, someone to look up to. In short, Samar had all the qualities of an exemplary student. In her loving memory, Samar’s parents have designated an award that goes to one IKNS student with exceptional critical thinking skills. This award goes to Nouf Khalid Mattar.

SAMAR Al Ansari 2008-2009 IKNS Sports Award

Samar Al Ansari Award 2009
for Outstanding Contribution to Girls Soccer at IKNS

At the beginning of 2006-07 school year, the school community was stunned and devastated by the passing of one of the most capable students IKNS has produced, both academically & on the sports field! Samar Al Ansari was tragically killed in a car accident on the 4th September 2006. She was to begin her tertiary education studying at University of York in England, the same university as her older sister Qadar, something Samar was really looking forward to.

It is a privilege but tinged with much sadness, I wish to present the Samar Al Ansari Award to the girl who has made an Outstanding Contribution to Girls Soccer during her time at IKNS on behalf of Samar’s Parents, Dr. Ahmed Anasri & Dr. Randah Hamadeh.

In my 1st 5 years as the Senior Girls (SG’s) Soccer Coach, there has been an Ansari in the team. To be honest Samar’s passing hurt, and we have all asked why?
Someone so young, so capable & her life beyond IKNS all in front of her.
Some parents have said to me life’s order is supposed to take the parents first, not their children.

On the soccer field, Samar was potentially one of the best players in the SG’s.
Samar, in the JG’s acquired the nickname “crazy legs” & it stuck.
When she ran her legs simply went everywhere. Anatomically, definitely not one of the great running styles. She was actually very fast off the mark, & one of the few SG’s who had ‘wheels’ (speed).

On the academic side, Samar acheived 42 out of a possible 45 for IB.
I am sure any of the IB students here tonight would be overjoyed to receive such marks in their IB exams this year.

One of the fondest memories I have of Samar Al Ansari is of her & IKNS Girls SG’s Team in Dubai watching a video at some rather late hour when they should have been asleep. Imagine 15 SG’s girls on 3 single beds & one asleep in the middle of them all watching the video. The Dubai soccer tournaments are a special part of the IKNS sporting calendar & the highlight for many of you. Samar was no exception & really enjoyed her two trips to Dubai.

How many of you have hugged the camel at Rashid School?

The two previous winners of the Samar Al Ansari Award were Rania Mashouk & Fatima Mahmood.

The award is to recognise a student for their Outstanding Contribution to Girls Soccer during their time at IKNS.

This girl has played soccer for the IKNS Senior Girls for the last 3 years, and has played a major role in contributing to our successes during those 3 years.

This person realised academy success was important to her & what she wished to achieve & came to IKNS at the start of Grade 10. Even before then we had met, I had to chase her up & down the soccer field in Dubai refereeing, thinking this girl can play. Even then she supported IKNS.

This person has been part of one of the most successful sports teams at IKNS ever.
2 BPSSL SG’s titles, 2 end of season titles & 2 3rd places in Dubai in her time. And I think she has had 4 trips to Dubai tournaments. The SG’s are good enough to seriously compete in the Gulf & this girl is one of the reasons why.

Her contribution on the goal scoring front is 2nd to none! Think of a number, then times it by 2, you might by close. This person has scored 40 goals for the SG’s in her time. Like Fatima Mahmood with 88 appearances in games or at practices, is a record that, I think, will never be broken!

As a coach I get a lot of satisfaction from the person who set-up the goal, & not necessarily the one who actually scored the goal. This persons vision & awareness are best illustrated by the fact her fellow strikers scored many goals as well; Areej Abulla scoring 5 goals, Basma Ajoor 7, Jawaher Zayani 20, and Majda Maskati 9 apiece. All these girls really appreciated their opportunity to play with her, & confidence breeds confidence.

Her best goal – vs. Shaikha Hassa School in the 2006-07 season. This person started with the ball in deep in midiield, lifted the ball over a defender while keeping the ball in contact with her left foot the whole time, ran to the left around the next defender, then veered right in field around the next defender. By now on the edge of the 18 yard box, stuck a superb foot blow curling the ball into the top right hand corner of the goal. The goalkeeper did not have a chance. I said to the SG’s after the game the crowd should have paid to see that goal – it was that good! Her 2nd goal against SHaikha Hassa this year to bring us back into the game at 2-2 was pretty special tool!

With all the skill she possesses, I think the one thing I have taught her is to run first, then do the things she can & likes to do. Not the fancy stuff 1st. Space is a wonder thing on the soccer field – use it.

Although Samar Al Ansari played her soccer as a defender on the right, she loved to attack from deep inside our half; this person definitely knows how to attack. Sometimes, out of position in the midfield. But then again attack is best form of defense. Girls, I don’t know if you have noticed this persons interesting running style,– her legs go out & round, but rather fast. Not to dissimilar to Samar’s & her “crazy legs” style.

Academics - with plans well underway, realising academics are important. This person is enrolled to attend a University in Boston, USA on a sporting scholarship for next year. One of the 1st for an IKNS student. She has the skills, is more than ready for the opportunity to play soccer at a higher level & I wish her well. I hope she responds well to this opportunity, remember Samar really wanted to go to university & did not get the opportunity.

It gives me great pleasure to present the 3rd winner of the Samar Al Ansari Award for Outstanding Contribution to Girls Soccer and one of the most talented players IKNS has ever produced . . . Zain M. Al Khalifa.

Mr Mark Clarke

IKNS Soccer Coach